Component, positioning device and method for fastening the component by soldering

ABSTRACT

A component having electrical connector elements for making contact with a circuit board, optionally having additional securing elements for mechanical stability after soldering or positioning devices for supporting components with an unfavourable center of gravity or supporting elements which can optionally be removed after the soldering process. The positioning devices or supporting elements serve to position components with different forms on a circuit board and to keep them in the correct orientation for the soldering process. Fitting takes place in a force-free manner and thus favours automation and the use of for example pick-and-place robots which take hold of and move the particular component via the positioning device connected thereto, engaging with and/or around either a contact element or a supporting element. The support of the positioning device allows a stable state during the soldering process. In a corresponding manner, methods for carrying out the soldering processes are specified.

The invention relates to components having electrical connectionelements for making contact with a printed circuit board, and to apositioning device for fastening a component by soldering, and also tomethods for fastening a component on the printed circuit board bysoldering. Here, the invention refers, in particular, to mountingcomponents on printed circuit boards and the positioning of saidcomponents before they are soldered to the printed circuit board.

DE 10 2008 029 123 A1 discloses an arrangement and a method forfastening a component on a printed circuit board by soldering. Here, aholder, which is manufactured in one piece, has a mounting element andalso spacers which are fastened to said mounting element and serve tofix the holder on the printed circuit board. Owing to the flexiblesuspension of the spacers from the mounting element, the spacers arelocated in the plane which is defined by the mounting element in thepremounted state, wherein the spacers are angled for mounting the holderon the printed circuit board.

Furthermore, DE 100 21 396 A1 discloses an apparatus for holding amodule on a printed circuit board, which apparatus has a holdingelement, which protrudes out of the plane of the printed circuit boardand is fitted to the printed circuit board, and an adapter element whichhas a recess for receiving the module, wherein the holding element isdesigned such that the adapter element can be inserted into the holdingelement in the horizontal direction and, after coupling to the holdingelement, is largely enclosed by said holding element.

The components to which the invention relates are, for example,electrical plug-in connectors or other electrical/electromechanicalcomponents which are to be fastened on a printed circuit board and, tothis end, have at least electrical connection elements which are usuallyinserted into corresponding bores in the printed circuit board and aresoldered to said printed circuit board. It is known to design electricalcomponents which change their position after being placed on the printedcircuit board on account of their center of gravity or components which,on account of their size or mechanical actions, after soldering, such asfor example connection of a plug-in connector, for stabilizing withadditional latching hooks for fastening on the printed circuit board.These are economically suitable for industrial soldering processes,substantially only for wave soldering processes, since, when the printedcircuit board is fitted with the electronic/electromechanicalcomponents, large forces take effect in order to deflect the latchinghooks of the components and to allow said latching hooks to engage intothe capturing bores of the printed circuit board. The vibrations whichact on the printed circuit board when the latching hooks are fixed canfurthermore also displace other surface-mounted components (SMD-BE) outof their fitting position. Therefore, the known solutions are notsuitable for automated fitting. However, there is an increasingrequirement to solder printed circuit boards which are populated in thisway, especially also for reflow processes.

The invention is based on the object of improving the abovementionedprior art and proposing options which allow the printed circuit board tobe fitted with electronic/electromechanical components which eitherstill absorb mechanical forces after soldering and/or have to be held ina stable position during fitting.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a componenthaving the features of claim 1 or 5, a positioning device as claimed inclaim 6, and the methods described in claims 8 and 11. Furtheradvantageous refinements can be found in the respectively dependentclaims.

Accordingly, the component has a positioning device which has at leastone support for releasably supporting the positioning device on theprinted circuit board and at least one holding element which can bereleasably connected to the component and which, when the component ismounted on a printed circuit board, can be arranged such that it holdsthe component. The positioning device therefore consists of a holdingelement which is configured such that it can be releasably connected tothe component in order to assist the component in a suitable manner whensaid component is mounted on the printed circuit board so that saidcomponent is held in its position until the soldering takes place. Thisoccurs, in particular, in the case of top-heavy components, that is tosay components which have a center of gravity which, after the componentis positioned, leads to tilting of said component and therefore also theelectrical connections in the contact bores of the printed circuit boardchange. Assistance by virtue of the holding element can take place inaccordance with the configuration of the component and the respectiveapplication. The holding element can therefore be designed such that, inaccordance with the component to be assisted which has, for example, aplug-in connector, it engages into the plug-in connector, for exampleinto the socket, or corresponding openings for the plug pins. It isequally possible for the holding element to encompass, engage beneath orin some other way provide assistance to the component at the end sidewith or without a plug-in connector. The component can additionally havefurther supporting elements which are not fitted at the end side butrather on the side and with which the holding element of the positioningdevice can engage. In addition to the holding element, the positioningdevice has a support for releasably supporting the positioning device onthe printed circuit board. The position of the positioning device isheld by means of the support on account of being supported on theprinted circuit board by means of the weight which acts in theperpendicular direction in relation to the surface of the printedcircuit board, as a result of which a structural part of a component,which structural part is releasably connected to the holding element ofthe positioning device, can no longer be deflected and/or displaced. Inthe case of components which are located at the edge of the printedcircuit boards, it is also possible for the positioning device to besupported on the adjacent printed circuit board. The positioning deviceis removed after the component is soldered to the printed circuit board.

In a preferred embodiment, the component additionally has at least onesupporting element which is directed toward the outside and ispreferably detachably connected to the component. Separating elements ofthis kind are preferably arranged on the side of the component, forexample a plug-in connector. The connection lines are located on therear side of the plug-in connector and the mating plug can be insertedat the end side. For components with an unfavorable center of gravity,that is to say those which, on account of their design-related weightdistribution, cannot maintain the position and orientation intended onthe printed circuit board in the unsoldered state without externalactions, the position of the at least one supporting element on thecomponent is such that the component can be securely held in theprespecified position by the holding element. To this end, the at leastone supporting element can be formed on each structural part of thecomponent such that it either projects laterally from the component asan arm or wing or else is angled in the direction of the printed circuitboard. In the first case, assistance is provided by the positioningdevice, while in the second case the support arrangement stands directlyon the printed circuit board. When the component is guided by means ofthe positioning device which is preferably detachably connected to thesupporting element, said positioning device is detached from thesupporting element again and removed after the soldering process.Releasably fastening the at least one supporting element on thecomponent, for example by breaking off, serves either for removal of thesupporting element after the soldering process for the purpose ofoptimizing the grouping of structural parts on the limited surface areaof a printed circuit board or else for removal when the support isprovided exclusively by means of the positioning device at the end side,such as in the case of a plug-in connector for example. In this case,into the support arrangement is not required.

The holding element is expediently designed in such a way that it atleast partially encompasses a contact element, which is located on thecomponent, in the connected state and/or engages into the contactelement or at least partially encompasses the at least one supportingelement. The component itself can also be the contact element in thiscase. In accordance with the design of the contact element as a socketor plug, the shape of the holding element is formed such that areleasable connection can be realized by feeding the holding element tothe contact element from at least one movement direction and, at thesame time, a stable supporting position is ensured preferably at leastin the direction of the printed circuit board. This can take place, forexample, by configuration with corresponding pole patterns as plug orsocket or simply as a holding element which engages beneath thecomponent or an encompassing holding element. The possible additionalaction surface provided by the supporting element allows the componentto be held in the prespecified position for the soldering process bymeans of the holding element.

According to a further preferred refinement of the component, saidcomponent has at least one fixing element for mechanically fixing theprinted circuit board to a shaft having at least one latching meanswhich acts in the axial direction. The fixing element can have differentrefinements, wherein it is essential that it has a widened portion, forexample in the form of a latching hook, a narrowed portion in the formof a constriction in the shaft, a thread or, for example when designedin the form of an eyelet, an opening into which solder can enter so thea movement in the axial direction is no longer possible and consequentlythe component is additionally mechanically fixed on the printed circuitboard. This is important particularly in the case of relatively large orself-supporting components in order to not mechanically load the solderconnections for the electrical connections or to do so to the smallestpossible extent. It is particularly advantageous for the fixing elementto not have to be formed from metal and for fixing in a correspondinglylarge capturing bore in the printed circuit board to nevertheless bepossible. Therefore, a fixing element composed of plastic isparticularly preferred. The capturing bore is preferably metallized. Inthis context, it is also very important for the fixing element to beable to be inserted into the capturing bore without force because saidcapturing bore has a sufficient diameter. Therefore, when a component ofthis kind is put into place, there is no longer the risk of othercomponents which are already located on the printed circuit board beingmoved out of their position due to vibration.

The object is also achieved by a component that has at least onesupporting element which is preferably releasably connected to thecomponent and serves at least to temporarily support the component whenit is mounted on a printed circuit board. A supporting element of thiskind has already been discussed above in connection with the positioningdevice but can also be realized without said positioning device in acomponent.

The object is further achieved by a positioning device for fastening acomponent on a printed circuit board by soldering, which component hasat least one support for releasably supporting the positioning device onthe printed circuit board and at least one holding element which can bereleasably connected to the component and, when the component is mountedon the printed circuit board, can be arranged such that it holds thecomponent on the printed circuit board by way of the support. Here, theholding element can be designed, for example, such that it correspondsin a complementary manner to a pole pattern of a plug contact or simplyencompasses the component or only engages beneath the component andtherefore provides support.

The positioning device preferably has at least one holding element whichis designed in such a way that it at least partially encompasses acontact element or a supporting element which is located on thecomponent and/or engages into the contact element. In the case of alarge number of different components, a suitable holding element ispreferably individually adjusted, which holding element either can beused for a family of similar components on account of its partiallyencompassing and/or engaging formations or is designed with completeencompassing and/or engagement in a complementary manner in relation tothe contact element of the component, so that an optimum releasableconnection between the holding element and the contact element isestablished. On account of the position of the alternative at least onesupporting element, a releasable connection between the printed circuitboard and the component is established, said connection displacing thepreviously unfavorably positioned center of gravity of the component andestablishing a compensated weight distribution. As a result, it ispossible, solely by way of the weight of the component, which weight isdirected onto the printed circuit board, to maintain the relativeposition of said component and printed circuit board with respect to oneanother. Therefore, for example, existing device plug-in connectorsthrough to individual contacts can be fitted as angled variants inprinted circuit boards in an automated manner and, for example, solderedusing a reflow process.

The method for fastening, by soldering, a component with an unfavorablecenter of gravity during mounting having one or more of theabovementioned features without a fixing element provides the followingsteps:

-   -   providing a printed circuit board having contact bores;    -   arranging the component on the printed circuit board with the        electrical connection elements in the contact bores;    -   releasably arranging, in a manner supporting the component, the        at least one holding element of the positioning device on the        printed circuit board, wherein the holding element at least        partially encompasses the contact element or the supporting        element and/or engages into the contact element;    -   filling the at least one contact bore with a liquid soldering        material and solidifying the soldering material; or    -   melting and solidifying a soldering material which is already        located in the at least one contact bore; and    -   removing the positioning device.

The method takes into account production both using a wave solderingprocess and also using a reflow process.

The feature melting and solidifying also applies in the case of use of aconductive adhesive.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method with acomponent having an additional fixing element for mechanically fixingthe component to the printed circuit board, the following steps can beprovided:

-   -   additionally providing at least one, preferably metallized,        capturing bore in the printed circuit board, wherein the at        least one capturing bore at least has a diameter which is larger        than the cross section of the fixing element, so that the fixing        element can be inserted into the capturing bore without force;    -   filling the at least one contact bore and the at least one        capturing bore with a liquid soldering material and solidifying        the soldering material; or    -   melting and solidifying a soldering material which is already        located in the at least one contact bore and the at least one        capturing bore.

The enlarged diameter, compared with the usual procedures, of thepreferably metallized capturing bore ensures force-free insertion of therespective fixing element without rendering deflection, for example, ofa latching hook, which is located on the fixing element, as a latchingmeans necessary. An arrangement of the capturing bore in a mannerslightly offset in relation to the fixing element is likewise a possibleconfiguration for fitting the printed circuit board with the componentwithout force. The requirement of capturing bores with a sufficientlylarge diameter for receiving, for example, in each case one latchinghook without tipping or exerting shear forces allows positioning of thecomponents on the printed circuit board with linear movement sequenceswith respect to the movement direction without any tilting of thecomponents in relation to one another. This is advantageous for use, forexample, of a pick-and-place robot and therefore automation inpopulating printed circuit boards. In the described arrangement, thepositioning device releasably rests on the printed circuit board by wayof at least one support. The position of the positioning device istherefore held on account of being supported on the printed circuitboard, as a result of which a structural part of a component, whichstructural part engages into the holding element of the positioningdevice and/or encompasses the holding element, that is to say either acontact element or a supporting element, can no longer be deflectedand/or displaced by means of a force which acts in the perpendiculardirection in relation to the surface of the printed circuit board.Furthermore, when the component is positioned on the edge of the printedcircuit board, the component can be supported against the neighboringprinted circuit board and held in the correct soldering position.Filling the space which is delimited by the shaft of the at least onefixing element and the periphery of the at least one capturing bore ofthe printed circuit board with a thermoplastic, electrically conductivereleasable material (solder) takes place in a positive fashion. Owing tothe metal-coated inner sides of the capturing bores, the solder isdrawn, for example using a reflow soldering process, into the capturingbore due to the capillary effect and in this way surrounds the shaft ofthe fixing element. This creates positive fixing comparable to latchingof a latching hook into the printed circuit board, so that themechanical fixing of the component is still ensured after the solderingprocess. The same applies when, for example, a constriction or an eyeletis used, in the case of which the solder through the opening of theeyelet firmly holds the fixing element. To this end, it is not necessaryfor the fixing element to be metallic in the region in which the soldercloses the capturing bore. The fixing element is preferably composed ofplastic. After the soldered material has solidified, the plug-infastening of the at least one holding element of the positioning deviceto the at least one contact element or the supporting element isreleased from the component. Owing to the complete soldering of thecomponent, both to the fixing element and also to the electricalconnection elements, and curing of the solder, additional anchoring isproduced in comparison to conventionally soldered electrical units withan unfavorable center of gravity, especially at the latching means, inorder to obtain a high degree of mechanical stability.

In the case of components in which the center of gravity of thecomponent allows a stable soldering position during the process evenwithout a positioning device, but mechanical fixing of the component tothe printed circuit board is required, the method for fastening, bysoldering, a component having at least one fixing element which has ashaft having at least one latching means which acts in the axialdirection, provides the following steps:

-   -   providing a printed circuit board having contact bores and at        least one capturing bore, wherein the at least one capturing        bore at least has a diameter which is larger than the cross        section of the fixing element, so that the fixing element can be        inserted into the capturing bore without force;    -   arranging the component on the printed circuit board with the        electrical connection elements in the contact bores and the at        least one latching means of the fixing element of the component        in the at least one capturing bore of the printed circuit board        without force, so that the latching means of the fixing element        is positioned in the capturing bore or through the capturing        bore;    -   filling the at least one contact bore and the at least one        capturing bore with a liquid soldering material and solidifying        the soldering material; or    -   melting and solidifying a soldering material which is already        located in the at least one contact bore and the at least one        capturing bore.

The positioning of the latching means of the fixing element in thecapturing bore depends on the configuration of the latching means. Inthe case of, for example, a latching hook, said latching hook is guidedcompletely through the capturing bore whereas, in the case of aconstriction or, for example, in the case of an eyelet, the latchingmeans is inserted into the capturing bore to such an extent that thesolder enters the insertion or the opening of the eyelet. Acorresponding behavior is also observed, for example, in the case of athread or another technically suitable configuration which forms anaxial resistance. The significance of this refinement of the inventionhas already been explained above in connection with other combinations.

The described method can preferably be further combined with thearrangement of a positioning device and or supporting elements if thisis required. The individual steps have already been described above inanother context.

The present invention allows components with different formations to bepositioned on a printed circuit board with linear movement sequences andto be held with the correct orientation for the soldering process. Thefitting takes place without force and is therefore advantageous forautomation and the use of, for example, pick-and-place robots which acton and move the respective component by means of the positioning devicewhich is connected to it and is located either on a contact element oron a supporting element in an engaging and/or encompassing manner. Thesupport of the positioning device allows secure standing during thesoldering process, such as, for example, in a reflow process and in awave soldering process. It is also possible to work with conductiveadhesive. After the soldering points have solidified, the positioningdevice, and also parts of the components which are non-functional inrespect of electronic operation, such as the supporting element, can beeasily removed on account of the releasable connection.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplaryembodiments which are illustrated in the drawings. Further features canbe found in the following description of the exemplary embodiments ofthe invention in conjunction with the claims and the appended drawings.

The individual features of the invention can be implemented on their ownor severally in different embodiments invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a component, a positioningdevice and a printed circuit board before mounting;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the component, the positioningdevice and the printed circuit board in the state in which they aremounted on the printed circuit board;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of thecomponent having the supporting element, the positioning device and theprinted circuit board and also the arrangement thereof before mounting(FIG. 3(a)) and in the mounted state (FIG. 3(b)); and

FIG. 4 shows the individual method steps for fastening the fixingelement to the printed circuit board by soldering.

The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 shows the schematicdesign, in a side view, of the components involved according to theinvention, comprising a printed circuit board 1, a component 4 and apositioning device 14. The printed circuit board 1 has a plurality ofbores 2, 18 which are oriented in relation to one another such that theycan all receive connection elements 5 to be soldered and all fixingelements 8 of a component 4 at the same time. At least one componentsupport arrangement 21 is usually provided in the vicinity of theconnection elements 5. The bores 2, 18 have different diametersdepending on what is intended to be received, as a result of which thecapturing bores 2, illustrated here, for receiving the fixing element 8are distinguished from the contact bores 18, for receiving theconnection elements 5, by virtue of an enlarged diameter. The component4 comprises the arrangement consisting of electrical connection elements5, the at least one fixing element 8, wherein said fixing element has ashaft 9 and a latching hook 11 which adjoins the shaft 9, for example ascrew thread 19 for receiving a device plug-in connector, notillustrated here, and an electrical contact element 6 having electricalcontacts 7. In this schematic illustration, the contact element 6 isdesigned as a two-pole plug owing to the shown arrangement of theelectrical contacts 7. The positioning device 14 comprises a support 16by way of which the positioning device 14 can be placed in a stationarymanner on the printed circuit board 1, and also a holding element 15that is designed in a complementary manner in relation to the two-poleplug arrangement of the electrical contact element 6.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the expedient arrangement ofthe structural parts presented in FIG. 1. The component 4 is oriented inrelation to the printed circuit board 1 in such a way that itslongitudinal extent runs parallel in relation to the surface of theprinted circuit board 1 and, at the same time, firstly the electricalconnection elements 5 are received in the contact bores 18 and secondlythe fixing element 8 is received in the capturing bore 2. The fixingelement 8 is guided through the capturing bore 2 to such an extent thatthe latching hook 11 is preferably located completely below that surfaceof the printed circuit board 1 which is averted from the component 4 andthe shaft 9 is surrounded by the capturing bore 2. The positioningdevice 14 is positioned in a stationary manner on the printed circuitboard 1 by means of the support 16 and encompasses the electricalcontacts 7 of the contact element 6 of the component 4 in acomplementary manner by means of the holding element 15.

Analogously to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 shows a further exemplaryembodiment in the form of a schematic illustration of a front view ofthe parts of the component 4 which are involved according to theinvention (FIG. 3(a)) and the arrangement thereof (FIG. 3(b)). In thisembodiment, a supporting element 13 is formed on the component 4, whichsupporting element is releasably connected to the component 4 by meansof a predetermined breaking fold 20. In the arrangement in FIG. 3(b),the positioning device 14 is positioned in a stationary manner on theprinted circuit board 1 by means of the support 16 and encompasses thecomponent 4 in a complementary manner to the supporting element 3 bymeans of the holding element 15, so that the component 4 can be held ina stable manner in the correct soldering position for the solderingprocess. According to another exemplary embodiment, not illustrated, thesupporting element 13 can be angled and as a result be self-supported onthe printed circuit board 1 without a positioning device 14. Dependingon requirements, the respective supporting element 13 can be brokenafter the soldering process is complete. The number of supportingelements 13, in particular the self-supporting supporting elements 13(not illustrated), is arbitrary.

FIG. 4 shows a view of a detail of the fixing elements 8 illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 and represents the method steps for fastening the fixingelement 8 to the printed circuit board 1 by soldering in the sequence ofFIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(c). For the purpose of populating the printedcircuit board 1, the component 4 is guided, by way of the shaft 9 whichis located on the fixing element 8 and the latching hook 11 whichadjoins the shaft 9, through the capturing bore 2. The diameter of thecapturing bore 2 is selected to be large enough that the latching hook11 with the latching cross section 12 can be guided through thecapturing bore 2 from FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(b) without force and ispositioned directly below the printed circuit board 2. As a result, thecapturing bore 2 in FIG. 4(b) surrounds the shaft 9 with a shaft crosssection 10 and therefore forms a cavity which is delimited by thecapturing bore 2, which is provided with a metal coating 3, and theshaft 9 which is additionally delimited at the bottom by the latchinghook 11. In FIG. 4(c), this cavity is filled with soldering material 17in such a way that, owing to the metal-coated 3 inner sides of thecapturing bore 2, the solder 17 is drawn into the capturing bore 2 dueto, for example, a capillary effect and in this way surrounds the shaft9 of the fixing element 8.

1. A component having electrical connection elements for making contactwith a printed circuit board, comprising a positioning device which hasat least one support for releasably supporting the positioning device onthe printed circuit board and at least one holding element which can bereleasably connected to the component and which, when the component ismounted on a printed circuit board, can be arranged such that it holdsthe component.
 2. The component as claimed in claim 1, comprising atleast one supporting element which is releasably connected to thecomponent and serves at least to temporarily support the component whenit is mounted on a printed circuit board.
 3. The component as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the holding element is designed such that it at leastpartially encompasses a contact element, which is located on thecomponent, in the connected state and/or such that it engages into thecontact element or such that it at least partially encompasses the atleast one supporting element.
 4. The component as claimed in claim 1,comprising at least one fixing element which, for mechanical fixing tothe printed circuit board, has a shaft having at least one latchingmeans which acts in the axial direction.
 5. A component havingelectrical connection elements for making contact with a printed circuitboard, comprising at least one supporting element which is releasablyconnected to the component and serves at least to temporarily supportthe component when it is mounted on a printed circuit board.
 6. Apositioning device for fastening a component on a printed circuit boardby soldering, wherein the component has electrical connection elementsfor making contact with a printed circuit board, comprising at least oneholding element, which can be releasably connected to the component, andat least one support, wherein, when the component is mounted on aprinted circuit board, the positioning device can be arranged on aprinted circuit board such that it holds the component by means of theholding element and such that it is releasably supported by way of thesupport.
 7. The positioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the atleast one holding element is designed such that it can at leastpartially encompass a contact element or a supporting element which islocated on the component and/or such that it can engage into the contactelement.
 8. A method for fastening a component by soldering as claimedin claim 1 on a printed circuit board, comprising: providing the printedcircuit board having contact bores; arranging the component on theprinted circuit board with the electrical connection elements in thecontact bores; releasably arranging, in a manner supporting thecomponent, the at least one holding element of the positioning device onthe printed circuit board, wherein the holding element at leastpartially encompasses the contact element or the supporting elementand/or engages into the contact element; filling the at least onecontact bore with a liquid soldering material and solidifying thesoldering material; or melting and solidifying a soldering materialwhich is already located in the at least one contact bores; and removingthe positioning device.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8 with acomponent having electrical connection elements for making contact witha printed circuit board, comprising a positioning device which has atleast one support for releasably supporting the positioning device onthe printed circuit board and at least one holding element which can bereleasably connected to the component and which, when the component ismounted on a printed circuit board, can be arranged such that it holdsthe component, and comprising at least one fixing element which, formechanical fixing to the printed circuit board, has a shaft having atleast one latching means which acts in the axial direction, the method:additionally providing at least one, metallized, capturing bore in theprinted circuit board, wherein the at least one capturing bore at leasthas a diameter which is larger than the cross section of the fixingelement, so that the fixing element can be inserted into the capturingbore without force; filling the at least one contact bore and the atleast one capturing bore with a liquid soldering material andsolidifying the soldering material; or melting and solidifying asoldering material which is already located the at least one contactbores and the at least one capturing bore.
 10. The method as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the at least one supporting element is removed afterthe soldering material has solidified.
 11. A method for fastening, bysoldering, a component having electrical connection elements for makingcontact with a printed circuit board and at least one fixing element formechanically fixing the component to the printed circuit board, whereinthe at least one fixing element has a shaft having at least one latchingmeans which acts in the axial direction, comprising: providing a printedcircuit board having contact bores and having at least one capturingbore, wherein the at least one capturing bore at least has a diameterwhich is larger than the cross section of the fixing element, so thatthe fixing element can be inserted into the capturing bore withoutforce; arranging the component on the printed circuit board with theelectrical connection elements in the contact bores and the at least onelatching means of the fixing element of the component in the at leastone capturing bore of the printed circuit board without force, so thatthe latching means of the fixing element is positioned in the capturingbore or through the capturing bore; filling the at least one contactbore and the at least one capturing bore with a liquid solderingmaterial and solidifying the soldering material; or melting andsolidifying a soldering material which is already located the at leastone contact bores and the at least one capturing bore.
 12. The method asclaimed in claim 11, comprising arranging at least one positioningdevice having at least one holding element, which can be releasablyconnected to the component, and at least one support on the printedcircuit board or an adjacent printed circuit board, wherein the at leastone positioning device holds the component by means of the holdingelement and is releasably supported on a printed circuit board by way ofthe support, and removing the positioning device after the solderingmaterial has solidified.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, whereinthe at least one holding element at least partially encompasses acontact element or a supporting element which is located on thecomponent and/or engages into the contact element.
 14. The method asclaimed in claim 11, comprising arranging a component having at leastone additional supporting element on the printed circuit board, whereinthe supporting element supports the component on the printed circuitboard or an adjacent printed circuit board.
 15. The method as claimed inclaim 14, wherein the at least one supporting element is removed afterthe soldering material has solidified.